Advances in Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 May 2025) | Viewed by 3386

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Neurology Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, Catania, Italy
Interests: transcranial magnetic stimulation; noninvasive brain stimulation; neuroplasticity; metaplasticity; motor cortex; stroke; vascular dementia; vascular cognitive impairment; vascular depression
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Guest Editor
1. Clinical Neurophysiology Research Unit, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
2. Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: cerebrovascular diseases; cognitive impairment and dementia; neuropsychiatric disorders; sleep disorders; gluten-related neuropathology; clinical neurophysiology; transcranial magnetic stimulation; neurosonology; neuroplasticity; translational neurosciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

From the pioneering application of transcranial magnetic stimulation, many different, innovative methods of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have attracted both clinicians and researchers.

NIBS techniques were first developed for the assessment and modulation of synaptic plasticity; however, when they were integrated with other neurophysiological methods (e.g., electroencephalography—EEG) or structural and functional imaging, NIBS techniques were found to enable the exploration of connectivity and more advanced neuroplastic phenomena across both motor and non-motor areas.

As such, NIBS techniques are emerging as some of the most innovative and translational tools for the assessment and treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders worldwide, including depression, dementia, and stroke. In the near future, interventions aiming to enhance neuroplasticity should receive further attention; such progress could enable the inclusion of other neurological disorders, such as sleep disorders or metabolic and rare diseases with insidious central nervous system involvement.

This Special Issue aims to encourage and collect original research, review articles, and case series addressing recent evidence on clinical applications of NIBS techniques in humans and, at the same time, to highlight current challenges and technical issues in the “cutting-edge” topic of NIBS research. In this exciting scenario, special attention should be paid to innovative NIBS protocols, the link to genetic patterns, and the interaction with drugs acting on multiple neurotransmission pathways.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Brain Sciences.

Dr. Mariagiovanna Cantone
Dr. Giuseppe Lanza
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • translational neuroscience
  • clinical neurophysiology
  • neurodegeneration
  • neural plasticity
  • neurosonology
  • sleep disorders
  • cognitive decline
  • non-invasive brain stimulation
  • nutraceuticals
  • neurogenetics
  • transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • dementia
  • vascular cognitive impairment
  • stroke
  • depression
  • metaplasticity
  • motor cortex
  • motor learning
  • neurotrophins
  • transcranial-focused ultrasound

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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13 pages, 1156 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Audible Joint Manipulation Sounds in the Upper Cervical Spine on Brain Wave and Autonomic Nervous System Activity
by Dalton Whitman, Rob Sillevis and Matthew Frommelt
Life 2025, 15(1), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15010103 - 15 Jan 2025
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Abstract
Background: High-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) manipulation is a common manual therapy technique used for treating pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction. An audible manipulation sound is commonly experienced by patients who undergo HVLA manipulation; however, there is little known about the effects and clinical relevance of [...] Read more.
Background: High-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) manipulation is a common manual therapy technique used for treating pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction. An audible manipulation sound is commonly experienced by patients who undergo HVLA manipulation; however, there is little known about the effects and clinical relevance of the audible manipulation sound on cortical output and the autonomic nervous system. This study aimed to identify the immediate impact of the audible manipulation sound on brainwave activity and pupil diameter in asymptomatic subjects following an HVLA cervical manipulation. Methods: 40 subjects completed this quasi-experimental repeated measure study design. Subjects were connected to electroencephalography and pupillometry simultaneously, and an HVLA cervical distraction manipulation was performed. The testing environment was controlled to optimize brainwave and pupillometry data acquisition. Pre-manipulation, immediately after manipulation, and post-manipulation data were collected. The presence of an audible manipulation sound was noted. Results: Twenty subjects experienced an audible manipulation sound. Brainwave activity changes were significant (p < 0.05) in both the audible manipulation sound and non-manipulation sound groups. Pupil diameter changes (p < 0.05) occurred in both eyes of the non-manipulation sound group and in the left eye of the audible-manipulation sound group. Brainwave activity patterns were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The presence of an audible manipulation sound is not required to produce central nervous system changes following an HVLA cervical manipulation; however, the audible manipulation sound does prolong the effects of brainwave activity, indicating a prolonged relaxation effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation)
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12 pages, 674 KiB  
Systematic Review
Survival Prognostic Factors of Non-Invasive Ventilation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review
by Aleksandra Orlova, Yaroslav Malygin, Anna Gofman, Sofija Sotulenko, Veronika Gandalian, Ioan Kartashov, Lev Brylev, Sergey Bolevich, Tamara Nikolic Turnic and Vladimir Jakovljevic
Life 2024, 14(12), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14121664 - 16 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease with high rates of disability and mortality. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective method of treating patients, increasing life expectancy, but currently, predictors available to determine the best outcome of therapy in this category of [...] Read more.
Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease with high rates of disability and mortality. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an effective method of treating patients, increasing life expectancy, but currently, predictors available to determine the best outcome of therapy in this category of patients are unknown. This systematic review aimed to determine the impact of prognostic factors on benefits from NIV application compared with non-NIV tools of treatment (invasive ventilation and standard care) in case of survival of ALS patients. Method: We systematically sought relevant longitudinal cohort and case-control studies published in PubMed, CINAHL/EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Scopus. Results: We included seven prospective studies, published in 2010–2020, in the analysis. According to the evidence base available to date, NIV favors survival compared to non-NIV in patients with bulbar onset ALS. We obtained conflicting data on the significance of spinal onset and bulbar function. Survival depending on patient age, and also for spinal, cervical, and flail limb phenotypes during NIV therapy has not been sufficiently studied and needs further investigation. Conclusions: The studies analyzed in this review allow us to state with confidence that NIV is effective in bulbar onset ALS, taking into account recommendations for duration of ventilation and the use of the full range of symptomatic therapy, including mechanically assisted coughing. The effectiveness of NIV on severe bulbar symptoms requires further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation)
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